Free way to Odegaard

Real Madrid's visit to Mestalla only left bad news: resounding defeat (4-1), new evidence of defensive weakness, anger at discrepancies with the referee's performance, possible injury to Benzema (felt a pinch and asked for change) and the low assured of Fede Valverde for at least a month, which could be two depending on how deep the tibial fissure suffered by the Uruguayan. A small lightning bolt slipped through this sea of ​​misfortunes: Odegaard wore the white shirt again (in Valencia, pink).

The Norwegian suffered a muscle tear in the right soleus in mid-October that separated him from important matches, such as the Classical or the visit to Borussia Mönchengladbach, cutting off his progression even though he had started the course as a starter, being part of the eleven against Real Sociedad and Betis in League. Against Valencia he returned to a list almost a month later and, before the needs of those of Zidane in Mestalla, had minutes.

Were 26 irregular minutes, not attributable to the Nordic, as he entered to remake a decomposed and sore Madrid. With everything, he left interesting signs: 16 good passes out of 18 (89%), two recoveries (Isco, in more than 80 minutes, only did one) and, above all, an assist for Lucas Vázquez that the Galician, arriving from behind, did not know how to reach the net. Green shoots for when you return from the break with your selection.

Shooting with Norway

Madrid is not excited that he leaves Odegaard with Norway, because in the previous game he played both matches of his team as a starter and returned injured. Although he also values ​​positively how he gave up going in September, during the white preseason, to work on your right knee and arrive at the beginning of the course in the best conditions. In current circumstances, matches with Norway could be the perfect shoot for Odegaard to get back in shape: he has three games ahead of him, against Israel (Wednesday 11), Romania (Sunday 15) and Austria (Wednesday 18); the first is friendly, the next two from the League of Nations.

Zidane is going to need Odegaard in the coming weeks and, surely, until the end of the year, as Valverde's injury disrupts the Frenchman's plans in the midfield in an important way. Six are the means that Madrid has in its squad: Casemiro, Kroos, Modric, Isco, Odegaard and Valverde. Without the Uruguayan and with Isco far from his best level, Odegaard already knows what awaits you many minutes in a calendar that, until the end of 2020, is very loaded for the white team.

A loaded calendar

At the return of the national team stoppage, Madrid awaits an almost infernal rhythm: ten games in 33 days (It could be 32 or 34, it will depend on the calendar set by LaLiga). You will not have a margin of a week to prepare a game until the last week of the year. And it is possible that in all that stretch not ready yet Valverde, since its time of loss will depend on the depth of the fissure that it suffers in the tibia. It will be the moment for Odegaard, to show that Zidane was right when he insisted on the club to return from Real Sociedad. The Norwegian has a free hand.